Content Area(s): Physical Sciences; Earth Sciences; Engineering Topic: New carbon dioxide absorbing substance Short description: Scientists at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania have created an inexpensive spongy substance pulls carbon dioxide and methane (another greenhouse gas) from a mixture of gases.
Claim: A newly created carbon dioxide sponge might be the answer to controlling greenhouse gases.
Keywords: global warming Difficulty of Concept: Easy
MS-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
MS-ETS1 Engineering Design
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/Literacy
RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Vocabulary Words: CO2, methane, greenhouse gases, synthesized, flue gas
Topic of Game Introduction Video: Evaluating Evidence Description/Application of Game Introduction Video:
This brief movie is used to introduce the concept of quality of evidence before playing the scenario about Carbon Dioxide Sponge in the Reason Racer game. Quality of evidence is generally thought to be how good or bad information is in relation to supporting the claim. It requires students to consider the reliability, validity and objectivity of the evidence when making a decision to accept or reject a claim. If all three criteria are met, the evidence quality is strong. Before playing the game, students could discuss reliability, validity and objectivity based on the following information:
reliability - information is consistent (example: getting the same results each time you repeat the measurement)
validity - how well the data addresses the claim
objectivity (no apparent bias)- a personal opinion or conflict of interest does not influence the data collection or analysis
Researchers at Lehigh University have created a new material that can be used as a sponge to soak up carbon dioxide and methane gas. These gasses are created by burning coal and natural gas. Carbon dioxide and methane are both "greenhouse gasses" that contribute to global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere. If this new sponge works, it can be used to trap the gasses before they get to into the air.
There are other materials that work to absorb greenhouse gasses, but they almost all have problems. Most of them are very expensive to make. Some use a lot of energy, which is wasteful. Others don't work when the temperatures are too high. But this new material is cheap and works at very high temperatures. Best of all, it uses no energy at all.
The new material would be made into sponges that trap the gas from a power plant. Then the sponges would be moved to a facility, maybe underground, where the gas would be released and stored. The sponges could then be reused to catch even more gas.
It will require more testing before this material can be used in large-scale industrial plants. The US Department of Energy is interested in funding the research, but it will still require companies to invest some money in making the technology work.
Title: Carbon Dioxide Sponge
Content Area(s): Physical Sciences; Earth Sciences; EngineeringTopic: New carbon dioxide absorbing substance
Short description: Scientists at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania have created an inexpensive spongy substance pulls carbon dioxide and methane (another greenhouse gas) from a mixture of gases.
Claim: A newly created carbon dioxide sponge might be the answer to controlling greenhouse gases.
Keywords: global warming
Difficulty of Concept: Easy
Reading Level (Pit Stop 8 Article):
Flesch Reading Ease: 65.4Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.8
Lexile: 970
Next Generation Science Standards:
MS-ESS3 Earth and Human ActivityMS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
MS-ETS1 Engineering Design
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/LiteracyRST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Vocabulary Words: CO2, methane, greenhouse gases, synthesized, flue gas
Topic of Game Introduction Video: Evaluating Evidence
Description/Application of Game Introduction Video:
This brief movie is used to introduce the concept of quality of evidence before playing the scenario about Carbon Dioxide Sponge in the Reason Racer game. Quality of evidence is generally thought to be how good or bad information is in relation to supporting the claim. It requires students to consider the reliability, validity and objectivity of the evidence when making a decision to accept or reject a claim. If all three criteria are met, the evidence quality is strong. Before playing the game, students could discuss reliability, validity and objectivity based on the following information:
- reliability - information is consistent (example: getting the same results each time you repeat the measurement)
- validity - how well the data addresses the claim
- objectivity (no apparent bias)- a personal opinion or conflict of interest does not influence the data collection or analysis
Link to Game Introduction Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFohWaRbyCUFull Text of Article:
Researchers at Lehigh University have created a new material that can be used as a sponge to soak up carbon dioxide and methane gas. These gasses are created by burning coal and natural gas. Carbon dioxide and methane are both "greenhouse gasses" that contribute to global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere. If this new sponge works, it can be used to trap the gasses before they get to into the air.There are other materials that work to absorb greenhouse gasses, but they almost all have problems. Most of them are very expensive to make. Some use a lot of energy, which is wasteful. Others don't work when the temperatures are too high. But this new material is cheap and works at very high temperatures. Best of all, it uses no energy at all.
The new material would be made into sponges that trap the gas from a power plant. Then the sponges would be moved to a facility, maybe underground, where the gas would be released and stored. The sponges could then be reused to catch even more gas.
It will require more testing before this material can be used in large-scale industrial plants. The US Department of Energy is interested in funding the research, but it will still require companies to invest some money in making the technology work.
References/Sources:
Additional Content:
Author: Kathy Carlsen